Chapter - 05

The Tandem Post Offense

Positioning  of  players | Qualifications of players | Tandem  post plays

The tandem post or 1-3-1 offense has become progressively more popular in recent years. Milton Jowers' Southwest Texas team that captured the 1960 NAIA tournament is a fine example of the potentialities of this offense. Jack Nagle's Marquette teams of a few years ago also enjoyed considerable success with this pattern and surely were a factor in the developing popularity of the offense.

The attack has the distinct advantage of easily being adapted to both man-for-man and zone defenses. Most teams use the 1-3-1 attack against zones. When another offensive set-up is used against the man-for-man, confusion sometimes results in efforts to change into the zone attack and vice versa. The danger of this confusion occurring is virtually eliminated when this attack is used against both type defenses. Thus, advocates of this offense possess sound arguments for its use particularly for high school teams.

Positioning of Players

Chart 45 illustrates the basic offensive set-up. One player (G) initiates plays from directly back of the free-throw circle. The forwards (F) set up along the sideline even with the free-throw line. One pivotman (P) sets up at the free-throw line while the other pivotman is positioned along the baseline near the basket.

CHART 45.    The basic set-up of the tandem post offense.

Qualifications of Players

G is the playmaker and is almost solely responsible for setting up plays. He must possess the essential qualities of a single or double pivot guard. His leadership ability should be superb for he must direct the offensive attack.

The forwards should possess a combination of guard-forward abilities. They should be able to shoot from the sides and corners as single pivot forwards but both do not have to possess the rebounding ability required of the single pivot forward. Since some plays will send them to the guard position, their ball-handling ability should be superior to the single pivot forward.

The pivotmen should be the better rebounders and better pivot scorers. The baseline pivot player should be the best pivot scorer. If the post player at the free-throw line is a weak scorer, he may be used solely as a screener and rebounder. Many teams possess a tall rebounder who is a weak scorer and this offense allows this player a position from where he can still be an advantage to his team.

Tandem Post Plays

Charts 46 through 60 diagram tandem post plays for man-for-man defenses. Plays from this alignment for attacking zones will be discussed thoroughly in Chapter 7.

CHART 46. A simple feed to the low post man for a one-on-one pivot maneuver. 1 passes to 3 who feeds 5. 5 attempts to score. If he cannot get a good shot, an easy option exists by allowing 4 to cut off 5 for a shot.

CHART 47a. 1 passes to 3, fakes left, and runs his defensive man into 4. 3 passes to 1 for a shot.

CHART 47b. If 1 is covered as he cuts by 4, 4 can cut close behind 1 for a pass from 3.

CHART 47C. Another option to the preceding play. If 1 is not open as he cuts by 4, 1 continues on to set screen for low post man 5 who takes pass from 3.

CHART 48. A double-screen for the opposite wing man. 1 passes to 3 and joins 4 in setting a double-screen for 2. After 2 cuts by, 1 follows. 3 passes to either 2 or 1. The double-screen is always more effective when more than one scoring option is available.

CHART 49. This simple reverse play is important to all offenses but particularly so to the tandem post. Since so many tandem post offensive plays involve passing to the wing men, the defense will often overplay these players. The ability to execute this simple reverse play will take advantage of this tight defense and reduce its effectiveness.

CHART 50. A simple screen-and-roll play. 1 passes to 3 and goes opposite ball. 4 steps out to set screen for 3. 3 dribbles off screen and, if defense switches, passes to 4 on the roll-out.

CHART 51. 1 dribbles to 3 and makes hand-off. 4 sets screen for 5 who cuts to free-throw line. 3 passes to 5 who may have a shot. If not, 5 passes to 2 for a shot behind double-screen set by 4 and 1.

CHART 52. 1 makes hand-off to 2 as 4 and 5 set up double-screen along free-throw lane. 3 starts toward basket on handoff by 1 to 2. 2 dribbles toward top of circle and may pass to 3 or to 1 who have crossed on the baseline side of the double-screen.

CHART 53. 1 passes to 4. 5 sets rear screen for 4 who dribbles off screen toward basket. If defense switches, 4 passes to 5 rolling out.

CHART 54. 1 passes to 4 who fakes toward 2 and dribbles as shown. 5 cuts along baseline and around 4 for a shot. 4 and 5 should practice together a great deal in order to develop a variety of maneuvers that they can do together.

CHART 55. 4 moves to top of circle and sets screen for dribbler 1. 1 has three options. He may shoot, feed 5, or pass to 4 rolling out toward basket.

CHART 56.    1 passes to 4 who passes to 2 cutting off screen set by 5.

CHART 57. A split-the-post play. 1 passes to 3 who feeds 4 moving to side post position. 1 and 3 split post with 3 cutting first. 4 passes to 1 for shot.

CHART 58. 1 passes to 4 and cuts by. 1 and 2 set double-screen for 5. 4 passes to 5 for shot. The screeners cannot hold the screen but must move on through the lane before the 3-second violation. The double-screen can be set up outside the lane to eliminate the danger of the violation.

CHART  59.    1   passes  to  3  who  feeds  5 along the baseline. 3 and 4 split-the-post.

CHART 60. 1 passes to 3 who passes to 5 cutting along baseline toward corner. 3 cuts to a position beside 4 forming double-screen for 1. As 1 cuts by, 3 continues on for basket. 5 may pass to either 1 or 3.

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